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The thing is that although people might complain, but they really aren't cancelling in the big numbers as the malcontents would suggest (not that you're saying that)...at least not until SDCC. Our cancellation thread has more discussion than actual cancellations.

BadV, your flowery words still don't save your claimed 35%. Only 8.55% have actually canceled of those polled. The rest of your figure is made up of undecided.
So who's being disingenuous?

My point is no matter how great the castle is, it's not going please everyone. You're not going to keep 100% of the orders.

It is sad that we're still here talking like this to each other about Grayskull. So I'll back off, and finish by expressing again, I love the castle. I think it's still worth the money. And can't wait to see it in everyone's collections. We're all free to our opinions on what makes the castle perfect or near perfect.

At this point, it really is too hard to speculate how cancellations will affect things. Many like me, are waiting until the SDCC reveal to see if improvements are met before cancelling. To argue over cancellation numbers right now is moot, because most of the cancellations, when they do happen, will be after SDCC.

I think the only way we'll ever find out how successful the sales on Castle Grayskull are, is if Mattel responds with a Snake Mountain playset afterwards,(and I'm not saying that it will happen immediately). If that playset doesn't happen, then the castle wasn't as successful as some thought. It's like using the Wind Raider to sell vehicles.

Yeah, I'd agree that Snake Mountain is the measuring stick. If Matty sees CG as a financial success, then they will start rumbling about SM. If you don't hear them talking about maybe doing Snake Mountain, then no matter what else they say, the final numbers on CG will not have been successful in their eyes.

BadV, your flowery words still don't save your claimed 35%. Only 8.55% have actually canceled of those polled. The rest of your figure is made up of undecided.
So who's being disingenuous?

The 35% is clearly listed as those "considering canceling your order for Castle Grayskull". At no point have I claimed or insinuated that 35% have canceled. I do not know how I could have worded it clearer.

It boggles my mind that anyone would cancel their order before they have seen the final product from SDCC. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain by waiting. Nothing is charged til December!

Because we know it won't be taller AND prototype seen, it is not what it should and could be. Voting with my dollar (lack of) and will not be sad when a Greyskull that is too short to fit Battlecat and He Man on the iconic drawbridge does NOT show up to my house for $300.

Again, I have some art skills and I can make a front drop of Greyskull that is really tall and not super deep to fit my current display AND if I am disappointed in it, it will be my fault and won't cost me $300.

The whole idea that this issue has descended into arguing about the significance of people who have cancelled their pre orders is just sad. SAD! It doesn't matter if it is 8.55% or 35%, the fact that there IS a % at ALL that represents people unhappy/dissatisfied is not a break out the party hats and cake moment.

Ehhhh... people were talking about canceling back when the original presale was going on. There were people who were going to cancel if it wasn't 100% based on mini-comics... there were people who were going to cancel if it WAS.... if it didn't have filmation aspects.. if etc. etc. etc....

We preordered based on hopes and a sketch. It was never going to please anyone, and SOME cancelations were always expected.

Did anyone here order castle greyskull on the second chance offer at 275.00? I put my order in for one. I mean wasn't happy about the changes but come on! Can I really skip this as a 80s cartoon fan? Any idea on what box art will look like? I hope it's more retro and less like the new computer generated box like the wind raider. The older boxes looked more like painted artwork. At least I can cancel after sdcc if I don't like it.

We preordered based on hopes and a sketch. It was never going to please anyone, and SOME cancelations were always expected.

When pre-orders were originally taken, there were NO cancellations expected, because that wasn't an option. The pre-orders, once made, were irrevocable. The option to cancel only came into play once the castle was revealed, and it was becoming obvious Mattel would be changing things from what they promised in the pre-order, thus changing the original agreement after the fact.

"I will use this power for all the good that can be done, to work for peace, to encourage virtue, and above all, to preserve life in all its forms..." Superman

When pre-orders were originally taken, there were NO cancellations expected, because that wasn't an option. The pre-orders, once made, were irrevocable. The option to cancel only came into play once the castle was revealed, and it was becoming obvious Mattel would be changing things from what they promised in the pre-order, thus changing the original agreement after the fact.

It makes me sick that Mattel messed this up. How could they screw up Castle Grayskull? As stated before, they raised the price so that nothing would have to be cut at all. Then, they cut it down anyway, even after the sales exceeded the preorder goal. There's no way I can justify spending almost $300 after shipping for a botched, poorly engineered castle.

It makes me sick that Mattel messed this up. How could they screw up Castle Grayskull? As stated before, they raised the price so that nothing would have to be cut at all. Then, they cut it down anyway, even after the sales exceeded the preorder goal. There's no way I can justify spending almost $300 after shipping for a botched, poorly engineered castle.

Actually, yes. When I started seeing pics from the big reveal, and then heard they were allowing folks to cancel orders, my initial reaction was, "Who would cancel?" Then the details started to come out, and the word that Mattel might cut things further despite their previous promises quickly shattered that delusion.

So, I was surprised. I though with the increase in price from the original benchmark and the Fab Four involved in the sculpting, even Mattel couldn't majorly mess things up. After all this time, after all the foul ups and broken promises and flippant attitudes from TG and Mattel, I guess I'm still an optimist at heart. I really thought this would be the thing to re-invigorate the line and restore some credibility for Matty.

Silly me.

"I will use this power for all the good that can be done, to work for peace, to encourage virtue, and above all, to preserve life in all its forms..." Superman

When pre-orders were originally taken, there were NO cancellations expected, because that wasn't an option. The pre-orders, once made, were irrevocable. The option to cancel only came into play once the castle was revealed, and it was becoming obvious Mattel would be changing things from what they promised in the pre-order, thus changing the original agreement after the fact.

The option to cancel yout credit card was always available and people have been doing it to get out of Matty subscriptions for years... I remember a few people saying "I'll order now, and if I don't like it, I'll cancel the card.'

They hired Alcala to paint the new box art right? So it will be old-school painting and NOT CGI? Right? Someone PLEASE tell me at least that awesome decision is still holding up?!?!?!

Like Zodach said Obrero will be doing it, Alcala would be amazing on a level you couldn't comprehend since he passed away 13 years ago.

One Gum Drop to rule them all, One Gum Drop to find them,
One Gum Drop to bring them all and in the sweetness bind them
In the Land of Candy where the Gingerbreads lie.
-Tag line for the Candy Land Movie Adaptation

Nope. You have to take the Matty claims with a grain of salt. Whether it's over-exuberance, the vagaries of toy production, economics, inexperience with a project like this, or just salesmanship, there tends to be changes to final products compared to what we are originally sold with this line. When I saw the original mock-up I was excited, but deep down expected them not to deliver on some aspect. I suppose it helps to allay my disappointment a bit because the original size was not large enough for my taste, so I was already looking at buying something smaller than ideal. I do wish they had cut accessories rather than castle height. Hopefully they are able to lower the jawbridge into the base a bit to get a better headroom clearance, but I'm not confident in that happening.

At the end of the day, I have to make a decision whether or not the final product is worth the price tag to me.

Sorry, I meant Obrero. Thanks for the correction/heads-up! I am THRILLED to have an all-new Obrero masterpiece on the box! That's worth about $50 of the pricetag to me.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeesh, I really messed that up. Thanks!

No need to be embarrassed, we all make mistakes like that time to time.

One Gum Drop to rule them all, One Gum Drop to find them,
One Gum Drop to bring them all and in the sweetness bind them
In the Land of Candy where the Gingerbreads lie.
-Tag line for the Candy Land Movie Adaptation

Actually, yes. When I started seeing pics from the big reveal, and then heard they were allowing folks to cancel orders, my initial reaction was, "Who would cancel?" Then the details started to come out, and the word that Mattel might cut things further despite their previous promises quickly shattered that delusion.

So, I was surprised. I though with the increase in price from the original benchmark and the Fab Four involved in the sculpting, even Mattel couldn't majorly mess things up. After all this time, after all the foul ups and broken promises and flippant attitudes from TG and Mattel, I guess I'm still an optimist at heart. I really thought this would be the thing to re-invigorate the line and restore some credibility for Matty.

Silly me.

Completely agree with that

- - - Updated - - -

and that....

Originally Posted by MegaGearMax

Yeah. You'd think that since the 2013 subscription scare actually forced TG to change the lineup, that Castle Grayskull is the LAST think that should get screwed up...

I watched the 2 videos of the pre-sell castle and the measurements. And yes it is smaller but its not to much smaller. That inch or 2 would have did wonders but if they get the draw bridge sunken I think it will be great.